when you need a shareholder dispute lawyer

by Berneice Adams 8 min read

In the event of a filed lawsuit, a shareholder dispute lawyer can help determine which BJR analysis is applicable. This depends on the location of the business’s incorporation. A shareholder dispute lawyer can also assess the actions of the director. Finally, this lawyer can evaluate whether they fall within the protections of the BJR.

Full Answer

What does an attorney for stock disputes do?

An attorney for stock disputes assists their clients with any investment dispute related issues. An investment dispute is a disagreement over financial investments including: Corporate assets. Because the majority of investments are secured through the use of a contract, many investment disputes arise over a breach of the contract terms.

Do I need a lawyer for a brokerage dispute?

However, you have a dispute with your broker, you should consult with an attorney immediately. This can include losing a significant part of your investment based on your broker’s bad advice. An experienced financial lawyer will review your case, explain your rights, and preserve any remedies that may be available to you.

What is an investment dispute?

An investment dispute is a disagreement over financial investments including: Corporate assets. Because the majority of investments are secured through the use of a contract, many investment disputes arise over a breach of the contract terms.

What are a stockholder’s rights?

A stockholder, or shareholder, has the right to a share of the company’s earnings. They also have voting rights which may be used to vote on certain corporate decisions, such as the election of the board of directors. This may sound like a large amount of power, but that depends on how many shares the stockholder owns.

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What are shareholder disputes?

What is a shareholder dispute? Simply put, it is a disagreement amongst shareholders or between shareholders about the governance of the corporation or some other essential detail about the company's operations, finances, etc.

What does it mean when an attorney is a shareholder?

*Partners/Shareholders Law firm partners or shareholders are attorneys who jointly own and operate the firm.

Do lawyers try to scare you?

If an attorney is attempting to scare you into hiring them to handle your case, they are probably exhibiting bullying behavior that can have very negative consequences later on in your case.

Is shareholder higher than partner?

As stated previously, a shareholders agreement is with the company and its shareholders. Moreover, a company is a separate legal entity, unlike the partners in a partnership agreement. Because of this, partners remain much more liable for the company's debts.

Is a shareholder an owner?

A shareholder is an owner of a company as determined by the number of shares they own. A stakeholder does not own part of the company but does have some interest in the performance of a company just like the shareholders. However, their interest may or may not involve money.

What are lawyers not allowed to do?

“An Advocate shall not solicit work or advertise, either directly or indirectly, whether by circulars, advertisements, touts, personal communications, interview not warranted by personal relations, furnishing or inspiring newspaper comments or procuring his photograph to be published in connection with cases in which ...

Do lawyers lie?

In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct govern a lawyer's ethical duties. The law prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonesty.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

Our shareholder disputes expertise

We have experience with advising both shareholders and companies regarding:

Our Approach to Shareholder Disputes

Our solicitors recognise that a shareholders’ dispute can be hugely distracting for the business owners and cause the business to underperform financially. They are experienced at providing commercially-grounded advice, which does not just focus on the legalities but also take full account of the impact on a business of the different outcomes.

Contact Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors in East Anglia

For practical advice on shareholder disputes, get in touch with your local Ashtons legal team in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Diss, Ipswich or Norwich.

Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors

Our experienced commercial litigators are supported by our team of corporate and commercial lawyers. Together, we are able to provide our clients with well-rounded, commercial advice which seeks to avoid costly litigation. Our team has the skills, experience and strength in depth to ensure that you get the best advice.

Shareholder Disputes FAQs

A shareholder dispute could potentially be avoided altogether by having an expertly drafted Shareholders’ Agreement in place. This helps to regulate the relationship between shareholders, preventing any avoidable misunderstandings, or breaches of contract.

Contact Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors

For practical advice on shareholder disputes, get in touch with your local Ashtons legal team in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Diss, Ipswich or Norwich.

Common types of shareholder disputes

While the world of business can be an exciting and exhilarating place, sometimes it can also be cut throat and there are always things that can go wrong. Ultimately, shareholder disputes are a part of business life. There are also a wide range of reasons why a shareholder may find themselves in a dispute.

Statutory rights

The main piece of legislation that presides over shareholder rights is the Companies Act 2004, which outlines director’s duties and statutory rights.

Mediation and negotiation

Of course, it’s always good to ensure that a business has steps in place to prevent a shareholder dispute. This can be done through formulating a good shareholders’ agreement, which carefully outlines the company’s objectives, finances, responsibilities, dividends, salaries and directors’ fees.

Derivative claims

If a company director or third party is guilty of wrongdoing under Section 260 of the Companies Act 2006, a shareholder can pursue legal action through a derivative claim. This wrongdoing could involve a breach of their statutory or common law duties, a breach of trust or negligence.

Equitable winding up

Possibly the most drastic action that can be taken to resolve a shareholder dispute, is the equitable windup of a company. This usually occurs when there is a complete breakdown of mutual trust and confidence in a company.

Final thoughts

So, whatever you’re faced with when it comes to shareholder disputes, you’re now equipped with the knowledge you need to successfully solve the issue.

What is shareholder dispute?

Shareholder disputes can arise over many different issues, from disagreements about the business to personal matters affecting one of the shareholders. Depending upon the specific facts of the dispute, a variety of resolutions may be possible.

What is the best way to resolve shareholder disputes?

Litigation to Resolve a Shareholder Dispute. Typically if negotiations through mediation fail, or the parties cannot or will not consider arbitration to resolve a shareholder dispute, the other option is litigation. A court will hear the issues involved in the dispute and will issue a decision about a resolution.

What is alternative dispute resolution?

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the form of arbitration or mediation can allow a company to resolve a shareholder dispute without needing to go to court. However, it is important to understand that arbitration and mediation are quite different from one another even though they are both forms of ADR. With arbitration, the parties will present their issues before a neutral third party known as an arbitrator. Similar to a courtroom hearing, the arbitrator will hear both sides and will make a decision about how the dispute will be resolved. An arbitrator’s decision is binding. Many corporations have arbitration provisions in corporate bylaws, so it is important to know whether anything in your corporate bylaws will impact arbitration.

What happens if shareholder disputes are not resolved?

If shareholder disputes are not resolved, the business may need to close. However, before the prospect of dissolving your corporation becomes the only solution, you may be able to resolve a shareholder dispute in other ways.

Can a corporation buy out shareholders?

The members of the corporation may be able to buy out one of the shareholders, or the parties may be able to negotiate a resolution in which all shareholders continue to have an interest in the business. If shareholder disputes are not resolved, the business may need to close. However, before the prospect of dissolving your corporation becomes ...

Do you need a lawyer for a shareholder dispute?

When your business is facing a shareholder dispute, or you are contending with the potential outcomes of a shareholder dispute, it is important to have an experienced Santa Fe business litigation attorney on your side. While shareholder disputes do not necessarily need to end up in litigation, it is essential that you have experienced counsel ...

Is arbitration binding?

An arbitrator’s decision is binding. Many corporations have arbitration provisions in corporate bylaws, so it is important to know whether anything in your corporate bylaws will impact arbitration. Mediation is also a form of ADR, but it is not binding. While arbitration is more like a judicial process, mediation gives the disputing parties an ...

How to resolve a dispute in an investment contract?

Many disputes regarding investment issues are resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods including arbitration. Arbitration involves a neutral third party that hears the arguments of both sides of the dispute and makes a binding decision. Many investment contracts include an arbitration clause, which requires the parties to forgo their right to sue in the event of a dispute.

What Does a Stock Lawyer Do?

An attorney for stock disputes assists their clients with any investment dispute related issues. An investment dispute is a disagreement over financial investments including:

What Rights Does Stock Confer in a Holder?

They also have voting rights which may be used to vote on certain corporate decisions, such as the election of the board of directors.

Why do investment disputes arise?

Because the majority of investments are secured through the use of a contract, many investment disputes arise over a breach of the contract terms. For example, there may be a dispute over the price of an investment. Common types of investment disputes that are directly related to the investment may involve:

What is stock ownership?

What is Stock? If an individual owns stock, they have a share of ownership in a company. They are also entitled to a share of the company’s assets or earnings. The more stock an individual owns, the more assets or earnings they are entitled. There are two different kinds of stock, common and preferred. Common stock is, as the name suggests, the ...

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What Is The Business Judgment Rule?

State Laws Concerning The Business Judgement Rule

  • Most states have some version of the BJR for evaluating director decisions. Given that Delaware is home to most major U.S. corporations, a number of states follow Delaware precedent. It serves as a good framework for BJR inquiries but does not necessarily reflect the law in every state.
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Practical Application of The Bjr

  • If a filed lawsuit relates to a shareholder dispute involving director decisions, the BJR often functions as a “front end” legal protection. This is routinely used to ask for an early dismissal of director defendants. Since the presumption is that the directors acted in good faith, plaintiffs bear the burden of rebutting the presumption in order to survive a motion to dismiss. Although the un…
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Shareholder Dispute Lawyers and Bjr

  • To combat potential allegations that a director’s actions fall outside the scope of the BJR presumption, it is a good business practice to document business decisions. These documents should show that the director: (1) Acted in good faith, (2) On a fully informed basis, and (3) Can justify how he/she expects the ultimate outcome to be beneficial to...
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Questions About A Shareholder Dispute?

  • Rogge Dunn Group has shareholder dispute lawyers familiar with the wide range of potential, and often complex, litigation. The Firm’s plaintiff clients include minority shareholders (both individuals and groups) and limited partners. Oftentimes, they assert claims based on minority shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duty against majority owners in control of corpo…
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Our Shareholder Disputes Expertise

  • We have experience with advising both shareholders and companies regarding: 1. claims of unfair prejudice 2. derivative actions 3. breach of director’s duties 4. breach of shareholder agreements 5. the effect and meaning of your company’s Articles of Association.
See more on ashtonslegal.co.uk

Our Approach to Shareholder Disputes

  • Our solicitors recognise that a shareholders’ dispute can be hugely distracting for the business owners and cause the business to underperform financially. They are experienced at providing commercially-grounded advice, which does not just focus on the legalities but also take full account of the impact on a business of the different outcomes. Prev...
See more on ashtonslegal.co.uk

Contact Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors in East Anglia

  • For practical advice on shareholder disputes, get in touch with your local Ashtons legal team in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Diss, Ipswich or Norwich. To set up an initial consultation: 1. Give us a call on 0330 404 0767; or 2. Fill in our simple online enquiry formand we will be in touch shortly.
See more on ashtonslegal.co.uk

Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors

  • Our experienced commercial litigators are supported by our team of corporate and commercial lawyers. Together, we are able to provide our clients with well-rounded, commercial advice which seeks to avoid costly litigation. Our team has the skills, experience and strength in depth to ensure that you get the best advice. Our Dispute Resolution team is led by Michael Frape and Tom Baile…
See more on ashtonslegal.co.uk

Shareholder Disputes FAQs

  • How Does a Shareholder Dispute Get Resolved?
    A shareholder dispute could potentially be avoided altogether by having an expertly drafted Shareholders’ Agreement in place. This helps to regulate the relationship between shareholders, preventing any avoidable misunderstandings, or breaches of contract. If a shareholder’s dispute …
  • How Long Does a Shareholder Dispute Take?
    The time it takes to resolve a shareholder dispute will depend on a number of different factors, which means it is often difficult to provide a precise timescale. Naturally, if a dispute can be resolved through a Shareholders’ Agreement, or out of court using ADR, then the issue can be pu…
See more on ashtonslegal.co.uk